Disclaimers—As you all know, I don't own anything here.
16—Nerves
Rogue made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen as unobtrusively as possible. Mystique was in a bad mood upstairs. She had been on the phone for the last half hour, and all that could be heard on her end was lots and lots of screaming.
"Think she ever heard of a muzzle?" quipped Pietro hunching down to eat his bowl of cereal.
"She's gonna take it out on us later," said Lance shaking his head. "She always gets cranky after talking to your dumb ass dad."
"Fuck you." Pietro and Lance traded glares for a few minutes, and then looked away. Neither one was looking for a fight. Not on a Friday morning.
"How long is she gonna be ohn the phone?" asked Rogue wearily.
"Shouldn't be much longer," replied Toad picking his head up off the table sleepily. Fred snorted and poured himself another bowl of cereal. Rogue opened her mouth to ask another question when she noticed how quiet the house was. Her housemates looked up as well; it seemed Mystique had finally finished her phone call.
Seconds later the blue shape shifter appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Eating breakfast? That's a first," she sneered making her way to the coffee pot. She picked it up and sniffed it suspiciously before tossing it into the sink. "Who the hell made coffee this morning?"
All three boys looked at one another and shrugged. "I made some yesterday," murmured Toad.
"Next time don't forget to clean it out too. Damn teenagers. I don't know why I put up with you half the time."
Rogue studied Mystique without speaking. She still hadn't decided when to talk to the woman about the truth of her maternity. At this point Rogue wasn't sure she wanted to talk about it. She had a bad feeling things would get worse if she pushed Mystique for answers.
Lance spoke up instead. "Don't be such a bitch, Mystique. Can't you lay off us for one day? It's a god-damn Friday for crying out loud!"
Mystique narrowed her eyes. "Don't push me Alvers, I'll tear you apart today. Look, you boys will be on your own tonight. I have some business to attend to today. There's a rally supporting the Mutant Registration Act in New York City. I'm going to check it out and see how serious this Senator really is."
"Sounds like fun," smirked Rogue.
"Good, because you'll be going along."
"Huh?" Rogue shook her head in protest. "No way, Ah'm a walking curse, there are goin' ta be too many people there. Ah might touch someone."
"Don't put Rogue in danger. 'Sides, she's got some drama rehearsing to do," argued Lance feebly.
Mystique scowled at all of her charges equally. Taking a deep breath she continued, "Don't think I haven't heard about what happened the other night between you two. You were an asshole, Lance; I think Rogue deserves a day off."
"At a convention where everyone attending hates mutants? Yeah, sounds like a real treat," chuckled Pietro.
"She'll be safe. I'll make sure of it. Many mutants will be there to see what kind of argument this guy can draw up against them. He's all bark and no bite. He won't harm a soul at the convention, the man fears what some of the mutants can do to him."
"Sounds like something the geekoids would go to," groaned Rogue. "Why cahn't ya take meh to the zoo or somethin' instead? Ah don't give a damn about politics."
"You're going and that's final. Now, go get in the car," ordered Mystique sharply. Rogue sighed, but decided not to argue. Mystique was already pissed, anything else would set her into a fighting mood, and Rogue didn't feel like fighting today. The southern girl gave Lance a quick kiss good-bye and followed her guardian out the front door. It was going to be a very long day.
The Mutant Registration Act Convention:
"Tell me again why we're here, Chuck?" growled Logan as more people jostled past him to get closer to the speaking senator.
"Senator Kelly is one of the foremost backers of the Mutant Registration Act. He believes that all mutants, regardless of their innocence, deserve to be locked up, away from the public. I believe watching him in action will enable us to better counteract any potential strings he has up his sleeve," answered Xavier calmly.
"Wanna say that in English?"
Jean giggled. "All he means, Logan, is that if Senator Kelly is really a threat we'll hear about it today during the convention. All his supporters are here for the eye to see, if there's anyone we should be worried about in the future then they'll be here."
"Yeah," agreed Scott shoving his hands into his pockets. "There are a lot of people showing up to support the Senator. If we recognize anyone at least we'll know to keep an eye on them from now on."
"Humph." Logan didn't seem the least bit convinced as he glanced up at the white haired senator atop the stage. The man didn't look very threatening at the moment. Logan narrowed his eyes and sniffed the air suspiciously. There was something funny going on.
"Do you smell something?" asked Scott noticing Logan frowning as he scanned the crowd around him.
"Mystique." Logan gave another giant sniff and growled even more. "And something else…southern spice."
"Rogue?" Jean didn't receive an answer as Logan took off into the crowd leaving Xavier alone with his two students. The red head turned to the Professor questioningly. "Professor?"
"I can sense Mystique here, Rogue is harder to pin down…but I think Logan may be right. I wonder why they have come to see the senator speak. If it is just the two of them, then I don't believe they are here to cause a ruckus. Something sinister is in the air."
Logan pushed and shoved his way through the growing throng of people until he found what he was looking for. Standing beside a trash can with a dark look on her face was none other than the mutant known as Rogue. She was oblivious to the X-Man as she listened to the senator call for more support in locking up every single mutant in the United States.
"Long live the land of the free," she muttered to herself glancing off to the side. It had been an hour since she had last seen Mystique, and now she was beginning to grow nervous. Rogue turned back to study the large crowd and instantly locked eyes with Logan. "Not good. Not good at all."
"Come to show your support to the senator, kid?" demanded the older mutant gruffly.
"Sure," said Rogue sarcastically. "Ya know meh so well, old man."
"Where's your mistress? Thought I smelled her around."
"Why would Ah tell you?"
"That's what I thought—you don't have a clue where that slut went, do you? Figures."
"Screw you, Ah didn't come here to listen to your yappin'. Ah came to see what ol' whitey here is all about. Isn't that why you're here? Or are you looking for another fight?" Rogue tossed out the challenge carelessly. She was itching to hit someone. First Mystique dragged her out to this convention, and then the shape shifter conveniently disappeared just as Rogue was gathering up the nerve to let the woman know she knew the truth behind her parentage.
"You ain't so tough, kid," Logan spit out the words mildly, his voice softening as he recognized the confusion in Rogue's eyes.
"Didn't take you as a softie. Whaddya want with meh?"
"Why'd you take Bucket Head's side? What's in it for you?"
Rogue was taken aback by the question. She hadn't expected him to care whose side she was on. She figured he didn't care whose side he was on, so long as he got to tear someone apart later on. He was born to fight, just like she was born to hide. "They treat meh real nice. Ah cahn trust them, they're mah friends. Why are you ohn baldy's side? You don't seem the peaceful type."
Logan chuckled. "You think you can trust Mystique? Look, kid, I've been fighting the woman for years now, she ain't an angel. She'll kill ya so long as it keeps her own skin alive. Who you gonna turn to when that happens?"
"What makes you think it will?"
"What makes you think it won't?"
Lapsing into a brief silence, Rogue contemplated the question, and her answer. "Ah don't need anyone ta take care of meh. Y'all have made it pretty damn clear that Ah ain't ever gonna be accepted. Ah got other friends if Mystiques screws herself over. Don't worry about meh, sugah, Ah'll make sure she gets her dues."
"You think you can take the she-devil down?" demanded Logan with something akin to admiration in his dark eyes.
"Ya better watch your back, old man; Ah might take you down with the shape-shifter one of these days. Ah only look out for mahself. That's what any smart mutant would do."
"Maybe you ain't so bad after all. You've definitely got some brains. That's pretty rare in a screw up hanging around the Brotherhood."
"Ah never said Ah'd be part of them forever. High school ends in another year, after that Ah ain't obligated to listen to anyone," returned Rogue coldly. Logan nodded and slowly stuck out his hand. He had finally met someone worthy of his respect. The southern mutant was bright…she knew exactly what she was doing. Rogue hesitated as she slowly stuck out her hand to shake Logan's. A momentary truce had just been made between them.
"So what's the real reason you're sticking around with those bozos?" asked Logan taking out a cigar and lighting it.
Rogue shrugged. "Ah like them."
"Ah like drinkin', you don't see me makin' friends with all the bartenders, d'ya?"
"It's hard ta explain. Ah joined them because they accepted meh without question. The boys aren't afraid of meh."
"You ain't exactly trying to kill them half the time you're out on the town."
"Yeah, well, your kids ain't exactly makin' meh feel welcome in Bayville. They were afraid of meh since the moment they tried to round meh up in The Big Easy."
"Yeah, well, they aren't the brightest tools in the shed either. They screw up a lot. You should know, you can take them down better than your own team. Using their powers. Stormy said you're pretty skilled."
"Ah don't know about that," murmured Rogue shaking her head. "It just gets easier every time Ah touch someone. Ah'm gettin' better at learnin' how long to hold on. Just because Ah cahn use their powers better than they cahn only means they're afraid of their potential. Your team is tough—they just need to learn how to tap into all their powers."
"It's that easy, huh?"
"That's how it works for meh."
Logan rolled his eyes. "Ain't there a setback to borrowin' from others?"
"Just a couple of unwanted roommates up here." Rogue tapped her head to indicate her meaning.
"Is it safe?"
"Borrowin'? It's never safe. Ah gotta be careful Ah don't lose mah mind—or accidentally kill someone. Ah don't have a gift, Ah have a curse. That's why Ah don't like bein' pushed too far. Ah lose control and mah anger is pretty damn scary to even meh."
"I bet Chuck could fix that," replied Logan casually.
Rogue snorted. "No thanks. Ah don't want anyone in mah head ever again. It ain't comfortable enough as it is. Ah'm fine."
"I'm just sayin', if you need help, you can come to me, alright? I ain't gonna be picky just 'cause you're working with an overgrown fur ball. And don't tell anyone I'd help you out. I have a reputation, you got that?"
"Sure. Ah ain't gonna need your help though."
"Yeah, but just in case, know that I'll help you. We clear?"
"Crystal."
"Good, now tell me where that so called 'guardian' of yours is."
"Dunno. She disappeared the second we got here. Cahn't ya smell her?"
Logan tossed his cigar in the trash before answering. "Too many people."
Rogue nodded and fell into silence once more. She was beginning to trust the gruff X-Man next to her, and she was wondering whether or not she could entrust him with her secret concerning Mystique. If he had fought her for years, then he could possibly know who her father was. Just as she was about to poise her question, an unwelcome voice intruded.
"Logan! There you are! We've been looking for you everywhere!" called out Jean as she and Scott bounded out of the crowd and over towards Logan and Rogue.
"Rogue? What are you doing here?" asked Scott glancing at the brunette cautiously. Jean froze, but wisely kept her mouth shut. There was no use blowing up in front of a bunch of mutant haters.
"Nothin'," replied Rogue quietly. She lowered her eyes and gazed at the ground wishing for an escape. Why couldn't Mystique show up and take her home?
Jean bit her lip as she watched the other mutant shift her feet uncomfortably. Something was bothering her. Thinking back to their encounter at the mall the other week, Jean knew it had to be what Rogue had been crying about that day. There was something the southerner was hiding. Jean felt pity well up in her chest, and instantly regretted all the things she had ever said to Rogue. She was as lost and confused as any other mutant, maybe even more so because her powers were much more dangerous than that of someone like Magneto or even the Professor.
"Rogue," started Jean gently. "I'm sorry we haven't been getting along lately. I don't know what's been wrong with me. You've had it rough since you developed your powers, and I haven't been taking that into consideration. I know I was scared when I got my powers, but I can't begin to understand what you felt when you got yours. I…I just wanted to help, and I'm not used to someone not letting me. I'm…I'm really sorry. Do you think we can start over? I promise to respect your privacy from now on…besides, I wouldn't want the Brotherhood to stalk me for your sake anymore."
Rogue eyed Jean warily, but all she could see was genuine warmth and sincerity in the red head's eyes. Rogue carefully weighed her options, but knew she was finally being accepted by the X-Men. The others looked up to Jean and Scott, if they were to accept Rogue, then the rest would follow suit. Jean stretched out a hand as Logan and Scott watched with anticipation. They might finally be getting through to the Rogue.
"Well..." Rogue trailed off and slowly stretched out her hand towards Jean's. Just as the two were about to clasp, a man with white hair, blue eyes, a wide forehead and wearing a suit came to join the small group. Rogue instantly retracted her gloved hand and stared at the man warily.
"Hello! I'm glad you decided to show your support for the Mutant Registration Act. It's wonderful to see today's young people finally coming around to support right from wrong. I bet you kids can't wait to see all the mutants locked up one day. Are you old enough to vote? More votes can take us one step closer to locking up the dangerous mutant felons hiding out in our society," said the man jovially.
"Who are you?" whispered Rogue with a bad feeling gnawing at the pit of her stomach. Something about this man was making her hands go clammy and her knees to shake. And she knew it had nothing to do with his words. She had been hearing that kind of talk all day.
"Who am I? I'm glad you asked. Senator Edward Kelly at your service. And who, may I ask, are you, my dear?" Senator Kelly beamed down at Rogue praying she was old enough to vote in his favor as well as the Registration Act's behalf.
"Ah…Ah…Ah…" Rogue's voice became softer, and her eyes widened as she recalled Destiny's words.
The day is coming for you…The day of revelations…You and a powerful senator share the same role…The ushering in of a new era…You can trust no one…revered by the stars…powerful…you alone have the power to be great…The day you meet Senator Kelly will mark your doom…You will become a vessel to wipe out…
Rogue shook her head, losing the rest of the prophecy. She continued to shake her head in disbelief as she slowly began to back away from the senator standing in front of her. She knew Destiny could see into the future…but to actually experience it first hand was quite another thing.
"Is something wrong?" enquired Kelly with a small frown.
"No, no…leave meh alone!" With those words Rogue sprinted off into the crowd leaving the X-Men behind without a truce. She only cared for one thing now, getting home to where it was safe. Senator Kelly was her doom. It didn't matter what kind of doom, Rogue didn't want to ever find out.
Rogue continued to push out of the convention hall and stumbled out the front doors and down the concrete steps. She was gasping for air, and her entire body was shaking. Rogue could barely see two feet in front of her as she tried to stay atop her feet. Then, without warning, Rogue felt herself lose balance and topple towards the ground. She didn't hit the cement because a pair of arms quickly broke her fall. Rogue glanced up, and it took several blinks before she could see clearly.
An older teenage boy with blonde hair and hazel eyes was looking at her intensely. He studied Rogue's pale face carefully, trying to make sure she didn't need medical assistance as he steadied her on her feet. The young brunette was shaking all over and looked on the verge of tears.
"Are you alright?" he asked with a hushed voice. Rogue nodded dumbly and tried to break free of his hold, but the teen held on tight. He didn't think she could stand on her own at the moment.
"Ah'm fine. Ah'm…not fine," corrected Rogue as her knees turned to jelly again. She tried to push Senator Kelly out of her mind and concentrate on the kind stranger hovering over her. "Who are you?"
"Warren Worthington. Come on, I'll give you a ride home."
A/N—I wasn't intending to stop here, but the next part makes a lot more sense in the next chapter. I know, it's cruel to do that…and I'm really really really sorry that it's taken me this long to update. School hasn't been kind, but deadlines are staring to spread out finally, so maybe I can get back into a routine for those you patient enough to wait with me. Thanks a bunch, and I hope you like this chapter!